Nut-cracker.



No. 896,044. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

P. H. QUAUKENBUSH. NUT GRAGKER APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1908;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL I-I. QUAGKENBUSH, OF HERKIMER, NEW YORK.

NUT-CRACKER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL H. QUAOKEN- BUSH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Herkiiner, in the county of Herkimer and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inNut-Crackers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in nutcrackers, theconstruction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth,reference being had to the annexed drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device; Fig. 2 a transversesectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspectiveview of the spring preferably emp oyed in conjunction with the levers orjaws; Fig. 4 an elevation of the upper portion of the cracker, the linkbeing shown in section; Fig. 5 a top plan View on a somewhat enlargedscale of the link; Fig. 6 a transverse sectional view taken through thereduced portions or necks of the levers, on the line 66 of Fig. 7; Fig.7 a side elevation of the upper portion of the levers; Fig. 8 a top planView of a modified form. of link; Fig. 9 a transverse sectional viewtaken on the line 99 of Fig. 10, showing the link illustrated in Fig. 8as applied to the levers and closed so as to prevent the withdrawal ofthe levers therefrom; Fig. 10 a sectional elevation illustrating theupper portion of the levers, the link being shown in section in itsmodified arrangement; Fig. 11 a sectional View taken on the line 11-11of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a still furthermodification; Fig. 13 a transverse sectional view taken on the line13-13 of Fig. 14 Fig. 14 a side elevation of the upper portion of thelever and a portion of the spring; Fig. 15 an elevation of a stillfurther modification; and Fig. 16a top plan View of a modified form oflink.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a nut-cracker inwhich the use of pivot-pins or similar connecting devices is renderedunnecessary.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the levers thatthey may be reversed and a wider or narrower space thus afforded betweenthe proximate faces thereof, in order that the cracker may be adjustedfor the reception of a larger or smaller nut.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means forpreventing the handles from turning when once positioned.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 17, 1908.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Serial No. 421,642.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring for normallyspreading the levers and throwing the lower or handle-ends thereofapart.

With these and other objects in View a de scription of the preferredform of cracker will now be given, reference being had more particularlyto Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.

The two levers, designated by A and B, are similar in form and are eachprovided with a handle portion at the lower end and withoppositely-disposed bearing faces 0 and D against which the nuts restwhen they are being cracked. The face C, as will be clearly seen uponreference to Figs. 1 and 7 is formed nearer the axial line of the leverthan is the face D, the latter being in fact substantially inalinement-with the outer face of the lever and merely roughened or cutaway by a suitable milling tool or the like for the purpose of formingteeth, as E, for holding a round nut and to assist in cracking the same.

The upper end of each lever is provided with a head F, connected to thebody of the lever by a reduced neck G. An outwardlyflaring collar H islocated at the base of the neck, and the under face of the head andupper face of the collar are substantially parallel or formed at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of the lever.

As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 2 and. 6, the neck is providedwith two flattened faces I and J, the face J being formed nearer to theaxial line of the lever than is the face I. As will be noted uponreference to Fig. 1, the face I is formed upon the opposite side of thelever from the face D. The purpose of this will presently appear.

To connect the upper ends of the levers a link K, shown in Fig. 5, isemployed. Said link is elliptical in contour and provided with asubstantially oblong slot or opening, the central portion of which iscut away so as to form a somewhat wider space to permit the threadingtherethrough of the heads F. The widest portion of this opening willpreferably be made slightly narrower than the extreme width of the baseof the heads, but by rounding the heads as shown the levers may bereadily threaded through the link and then moved endwise in the slot tothe position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The width of the narrowerportions of the slot or opening in the link is substantially slightlygreater than the extreme width or thickness of the neck, so that Whilethe heads will prevent the levers from being withdrawn from the linkwhen the handles are properly positioned, the levers may be rotatedwithin the link. -The link will likewise preferably be curved or dished,as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and the distance between the under face ofthe head and the upper face of the collar will be made slightly greaterthan the thickness of the link, in order that there may be a certainplay between the parts, so that the lower end of the handle portions ofthe levers may be drawn together in the act of cracking the nutinterposed between the levers.

In order to spread the levers and to maintain the necks at the oppositeends of the slot or opening in the link, an inverted U- shaped spring L,shown in detail in Fig. 3, will preferably be employed. The springoccupies the position best illustrated in Fig. 2, with the ends thereofgiven a slight spread and bearing against the inclined face of thecollars H and against a shoulder M formed at the junction of the base ofthe collar and the body of the lever. As just noted, the spring tends tohold the levers in their outermost position, with the flat face I or Jof each lever against the corresponding flat face N formed at the end ofthe opening in the link. The spring thus normally prevents the axialrotation of the levers, and such rotation will not take place exceptwhen the levers are grasped and forcibly rotated to bring the faces Copposite each other and the faces D opposite each other.

By forming the bearing faces I and J of the neck at dififerent distancesfrom the axial center of the levers and placing the face I upon theopposite side of the center from the face D and the innermost face Jopposite the deep face 0, the levers may be adjusted to fit either largeor small nuts. faces I of the levers bear against the end Walls N. ofthe slot in the link, the faces D will stand opposite to each other anda rela tively narrow space will be afforded between such faces. Thus asmall nut may be ac commodated. By giving the levers 'a half turn thefaces J will be brought against the ends of the walls N of the link, andthe faces C will be oppositely disposed, thus affording a wide spacebetween the levers for the reception of a large nut. This arrangementpermits the nut to be placed well up between the levers, or adjacent tothe fulcrum, and

better leverage for the cracking of the nut is thereby afforded.

The positions of the parts in their various adjustments is shown in Fig.4. It is conceivabl e, of course, that the flattened faces formed uponthe neck may be dispensed with and the faces C and D, placed atdifferent distances from the axial line of the levers, depended upon togive the varying adjustments. It will be readily appreciated, however,that this will diminish the margin of When the adjustment. Under suchconstruction the spring, as shown in Figs. 13 and14, may be employedtoprevent the rotation of the levers under normal conditions. Thespring, designated by 0, will then bear against the flattened faces Pformed upon each side of the collar portion of the lever, the flattenedfaces standing in planes parallel with the toothed faces C and D. It islikewise conceivable that the neck portion mightbe formed eccentricto'the body portion of the lever under such construction which, ofcourse, would afford the same range ofadjustment as is obtained underthe construction hereinbefore described. Such an arrangement is shown inFig. 15.

In Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive a still further modification is shown. Underthis construction the levers are not reversible, but the arrangement issuch that the link is employed to form the pivotal connection betweenthe upper ends of the levers, as in the constructions hereinbefore setforth. The link Q shown in Fig. 8 is provided with a slot R extendinlengthwise thereof, the central portion S of which is made so as to forma substantially circular opening in the center of the link, throughwhich the heads T of the levers may be freely passed. The head of eachlever is provided with oppositely-disposed channels or recesses U, whichoccupy a slightly upwardly-inclined position and are of a width slightlyin excess of the thickness of the link. After the levers are passedthrough the centrally-disposed opening S in the link and are movedendwise therein, the link is squeezed of forced together at the centralortion so as to bring the side walls of the s ot in which the leversstand in substantial parallelism and to carry the projections V formedat the junction of the smaller portions of the slot and the largecentral portion inwardly to a point beyond the side walls, so that eachlever will be confined in.

that portion of the slot adjacent to the end of the link. to Fig. 9,that portion of the slot in which the lever is confined is somewhatlonger than the width of the neck of the lever, so that the lever mayhave .a slight play in order that they may be tilted with reference tothe link so as to be opened and closed upon a nut inserted between them.

In Fig. 12 substantially the same structure as that illustrated in thefigures just referred to is shown, but in addition thereto a spring W isemployed to normally hold the levers in their spread or open position.

In Fig. 16 a modified form of link is shown. Instead of providing thelink with a large central aperture, as in Fig. 5, it is formed with aslot having a square portion X at each end and with two intersectingcircular openings Y and Z through which the heads of the levers may bepassed.

As will be noted upon reference It is conceivable that the head or thehead and neck of each lever might be formed independently of the bodythereof. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 15, in which the neck isprovided with a screw-threaded stem extending down into a threadedsocket formed in the body of the lever. This construction is not ascheap to manufacture nor as stable as the others heretofore shown anddescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link; and a pair of axiallyrotatable levers having different bearing faces, said levers beingfulcrumed upon the link.

2. A nutcracker comprising a pair of hinged and axially rotatablelevers, said levers having different bearing faces.

3. A nut-cracker comprising a pair of hinged and axially rotatablelevers, said levers having bearing faces at varying distances from theiraxes.

4. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with a slot; anda pair of levers extending through the slot, the link forming the fulcrafor the levers.

5. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a pair of levers; and a linkconnecting and forming the fulcra of said levers, whereby the use ofpivot-pins and the like is avoided.

6. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link; and a pair of leversformed to interlock with the link, the link forming the fulcra for thelevers.

7. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with a slot; apair of levers passing through the slot and bearing respectively atopposite ends thereof; and means for holding the parts in theirassembled positions.

8. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with a slot; apair of levers hav ing one end of each passing through the slot andforming an interlocking connection therewith to prevent longitudinalmovement of the levers; and means for holding the levers at the ends ofthe slot.

9. A nut-cracker comprising a pair of hinged and axially rotatablelevers, said levers having bearing faces at varying distances from theiraxes; and means for holding the-levers in their axially adjustedposition.

10. In a nut-cracker, the combination ofa link; a pair of levers havingone end of each passed through a slot or opening formed in the link;eccentric bearings formed upon that portion of each of the levers whichis seated within the slot or opening; and bearing faces formed upon eachlever at varying distances from their axes.

11. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link; a pair of axiallyrotatable levers having one end of each passed through a slot formed inthe link, said levers having bearing faces at varying distances fromtheir axes; and means for holding the levers in their axially adjustedposition.

12. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with alongitu(finally-disposed slot; and a pair of levers adapted to cooperatewith said link, each lever having fulcrum points or faces located atdifierent distances from the axial center of the lever, and bearingfaces for the article to be operated upon likewise spaced at differentdistances from the axial center of the lever.

13. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link; and a pair of leversfulcrumed upon the link, each of said levers being provided with a head,a neck having flattened bearing faces arranged at varying distances fromthe axis of the lever, said faces cooperating with complemental faces atthe ends of a slot formed in the link, and bearing faces for the articleto be operated upon formed upon each of said levers, said faces being atvarying distances from the axis of the lever and arranged in oppositionto the fulcrum-faces formed upon the neck of the lever.

14. In a nutcracker, the combination of a link; a pair of axiallyrotatable levers fulcrumed upon the link, each of said levers beingprovided with bearing faces complemental in shape to the ends of a slotformed in the link, said faces being at different distances from theaxis of the lever, and bearing faces for the article to be operated uponlikewise formed upon the lever and at different distances from thecentral line of the lever, that bearing face for the article which isfarthest from the axial line being formed upon the side of the lever onwhich the fulcrum face is nearest to the axial line of the lever; andmeans for holding the levers in their adjusted positions with referenceto the link.

15. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with a slotextending longitudinally thereof; a pair of levers, each leverhaving aneck portion extending through the slot and formed with fulcrum facescomplemental in shape to the end of the slot and at different distancesfrom the axis of the lever; and a spring interposed between the leversand serving to hold one or another of said faces in contact with the endwall of the slot.

16. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a curved link; and a pair oflevers, each of said levers having a reduced portion, said portionsbeing seated within and bearing against the end walls of a slot formedin the link.

17. In a nutcracker, the combination of a curved link provided with alongitudinallydisposed slot; and a pair of levers, each having a reducedportion seated within the ends of the slot, the distance between theshoulders produced in the formation of said reduced portions beinggreater than the thickness of the link.

18'. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with alongitudinally-disposed slot having an enlarged portion; a pair oflevers, each lever being provided with a reduced portion adjacent to oneend of substantially the same size as the end portions of the slot; andmeans for confinin the reduced portions of the levers to the enc s ofthe slot.

19. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with alongitudinally-disposed slot; a pair of levers, each lever beingprovided with a head adjacent to one end, a neck extending downwardlyfrom the head and provided with flattened faces at different distancesfrom the axial line of the lever, an outwardly-flaring collar locatedbelow the neck, and bearing faces for the article to be operated uponarranged at different distances from the axial line of the lever; and aninverted U shaped sprin passing through the slot and having its en sresting against the collars and .the shoulders formed adjacent thereto.

20. In a nut-cracker, the combination of a link provided with a slotextending longitudinally thereof, the central portion of theslot beinglarger than the ends; a pair of levers, each lever bein provided with areduced neck adapted to e seated in one end portion of the slot; and aninverted U-shaped spring of a width substantially equal to the width ofthe enlarged portion of the slot in the link, and having its endsbearing upon the levers below the link and serving to spread them apart.

21. A nut-cracker, comprising a pair of hin ed levers; and means forsecuring rotatable axial adjustment of said levers with relation to eachother, whereby the space between the-bearing faces for the reception ofthe nut may be varied.

In testimony whereof I have-signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL H. QUAOKENBUSH.

Witnesses: Y A. G. BEOKINGHAM, EDWARD A. BROWN.

